Mueller investigation targets lawbreakers: Letters, Aug. 6, 2018

Mueller investigation targets lawbreakers

Americans were stunned to hear President Donald Trump dispute his intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia had interfered with the 2016 election when he said at the summit in Helsinki, “President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.”

Following bipartisan blow-back, the president offered an excuse of misspeaking one word. Since then, he’s repeated his default phrases on the subject of Russian intrusion: “It could have been others," “There was no collusion with the Trump campaign” and "(Special Counselor Robert) Mueller’s investigation is a witch hunt.”

Here’s the current scorecard of the 14-month Mueller investigation for those indicted on federal charges: four Trump campaign associates and two others connected to them, 13 Russian nationals, three Russian companies and 12 Russian intelligence officials.

The four indicted Americans involved in the Trump campaign are George Papadopoulos, foreign policy adviser, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contact with Russians; Paul Manafort, campaign chairman from March 2016 to August 2016, who is on trial on 32 counts, including conspiracy against the United States, obstruction of justice and money laundering in his work in Ukraine; Richard Gates, Manafort’s deputy, who is charged with money laundering and other illegal business practices; and Michael Flynn, national security adviser, who pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.

Other Trump campaign associates being investigated include Roger Stone, longtime Trump friend and adviser who admitted to corresponding with Russian hackers he claims he hadn’t identified as such; Carter Page, foreign policy adviser, now a subject of a FISA (wiretapping) warrant regarding suspected conspiring and collaborating with the Russian government; and Michael Cohen, longtime attorney to Trump, being investigated for criminal conduct in his personal business dealings.

This isn’t a witch hunt to persecute political opponents. It’s a legal investigation to prosecute federal lawbreakers.